Around the Region: April 9

WHITTIER - A motorcyclist who crashed on Whittier Boulevard on Friday denied that he was performing a stunt when he crashed, as alleged by police.

Reuben Alvarez, 43, said he was not trying to pop a wheelie when his motorcycle crashed on Whittier Boulevard at Painter Avenue about 7:15 a.m. Friday, as he was on his way home after a graveyard shift at work.

"I was having bike problems, and the bike accelerated, which threw me off," he said.

In a written statement issued the day after the crash, Whittier police said the investigation indicated a failed wheelie appeared to have caused the crash.

Because of the way the crash occurred, Alvarez said he could understand why witnesses may have thought he was performing a wheelie.

"As soon as I let the clutch go, I was up in the air," he said. "So to anybody who saw the bike up in the air, it may have looked like a wheelie."

Wet weather headed to Southland this week

LOS ANGELES COUNTY - A storm is expected to bring rain to the region by Tuesday night, and linger through the rest of the week, forecasters said.

Although Monday will likely see high temperatures in the low 80s, showers are possible by Tuesday evening and highly likely after midnight, according to the National Weather Service.